Kharag Stables’ Isn’t He Perfect
finished ninth in the Preakness, but trainer Doodnauth Shivmangal is hopeful a
return to his home track will lead to an improved performance in Saturday’s
Belmont Stakes.

Every day, Shivmangal feeds his
horses a concoction that includes Guinness Extra Stout, brown sugar, and egg
whites, which Isn’t He Perfect usually laps up vigorously. The colt’s fondness
for the mixture temporarily disappeared when he was stabled at Pimlico prior to
the Preakness.

“He wasn’t the same horse,” said
Shivmangal. “He didn’t eat, he didn’t sleep. It wasn’t perfect at all. He
wouldn’t drink it.”

Now back at his home base, Isn’t He
Perfect’s appetite has returned with a vengeance.

“Here, you can hear him yelling for
it,” said Shivmangal. “It’s home, and he’s really, really feeling well. Being
on your home court is better than shipping out to another track. He loves this
track. Belmont is similar to Aqueduct, but it’s also bigger than the outer
track [at Aqueduct]. He seemed to love the outer track, and he should love the
big, sweeping turns. He’s a big horse, so I think this a perfect track for
him.”